Police and the Coronavirus (1)

Peter Whittle: How many officers serving with the Metropolitan Police are currently unavailable for duty, due either to having Covid-19, or shielding from it?

The Mayor: As of 15th Jan 2021, 14.8% of the workforce are currently sick or self-isolating.
This includes officers and staff, a significant proportion of which are able to work from home whilst self-isolating.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will be exploring the use of lateral flow tests for officers who would otherwise be self-isolating to enable them to get back to policing as soon as possible.
Levels of absence and self-isolation are closely monitored, and the Commissioner assures me that the MPS remains in good shape, thanks to the professionalism and flexibility of police officers.
Note the above figure changes daily on account of those that start and finish their isolation or recover and return to work.

Private Company Policing

David Kurten: Does G4S or any other private company supply the Metropolitan Police with any policing services? If so, what powers of policing do they have?

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service currently hold contracts with three private companies who provide additional policing services support.
The MPS engages Civilian Investigators under a managed service via Servoca. These Civilian Investigators undertake specific roles in terms of gathering and reviewing CCTV footage, taking witness and victim statements and conducting door to door enquiries. They are not provided with Designated Powers (i.e. any policing powers).
The MPS has a number of HOLMES (Home Office Large and Major Enquiry System) inputters and analysts working with our Murder Investigation Teams (MIT) who are engaged via a supplier called Red Snapper. These individuals do not have any Designated Powers.
The MPS also engages approximately 120 Civilian Investigators as agency staff through its contract with Reed Specialist Recruitment working on projects such as Operation Winter Key and Operation Elter. Again, these individuals do not have any Designated Powers

Handcuffing practices

Unmesh Desai: What changes have been made to Met’s police practice in the use of handcuffs following the review announced by the Commissioner in July?

The Mayor: The MPS review into pre-arrest handcuffing is in the final stages and the aim is to publish the outcome shortly.